Directed by Koji Shiraishi, mostly known for directing Japanese Horror movies, in my opinion, he excels more in the found-footage category. You’ll see that here in Noroi. He also did Grotesque 2009. Early 2000s Japanese horror films have always been known to be traumatizing, and this was no exception.

Noroi is not your typical horror film, it’s a slow burn, but regardless, it kept me on my toes all throughout. It doesn’t make use of the usual jump scares, or sudden loud high pitch noises just to get some reaction from its audience. The way they incorporate the music and sound effects is pure artistry, it emits dread, eeriness, and the uncertainty of what’s about to happen. The screenwriting was also great, everything that was said was needed, nothing felt forced or out of place.

This is fictional, but after watching it, you would definitely go on the internet and search about it if its real. That’s how realistic this mockumentary was. In the film, they used both tech, for analyzing sound waves, and the use of people with psychic abilities, to find the truth behind the mystery. The protagonist used these methods to uncover to uncover the truth behind it. He’s a journalist through and through, and would stop at nothing to get it, its a blessing (career-wise), but a curse if he was to go against matters that should be left alone.

The latter part of the film was very disturbing, I couldn’t get my eyes off the screen, but at the same time, I knew something was going to happen, be it a shocking reveal, or a dreadful exposure of the truth. The ending creeped the hell out of me. Noroi did a phenomenal job on that one.

Noroi: The Curse is a great gateway into Japanese found footage horror, this is the one.
Another notable found footage film is Gonjiam.